"What is the Purpose of Angels?" 7-11-21

Overview

What Is the Purpose of Angels?

Much of what people picture when they hear the word "angel" comes from movies, books, and folklore—wings, halos, bells ringing when one earns its place. Scripture paints a different picture. The very word for "angel" in both Hebrew and Greek means messenger, one sent from God. Angels are not divine, not co-equal with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and not mediators between God and humanity. They are part of God's creation—creatures with a purpose. For that reason, we do not worship them; we worship the God who made them. Hebrews 1:14 gives the clearest statement of their role: "Are not all angels spirits in the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?"

Scripture does not satisfy every curiosity about angels. We read of archangels, seraphim, cherubim, and a "multitude of the heavenly host"—numbers expressed as "ten thousand times ten thousand"—but the precise rankings and totals are not given. This calls us to humble trust: God knows, and that is enough. What Scripture does make plain is what angels do. They announce. Gabriel comes to Mary to declare the coming of the Savior Luke 1:26–33. The heavenly host bursts into praise over the shepherds' fields at Christ's birth Luke 2:8–14. An angel rolls back the stone and proclaims the resurrection to the women at the tomb Matthew 28:1–7. Again and again, their message centers on Christ and on God's plan of salvation.

Angels also guard. Psalm 91:9–12 promises that God commands his angels concerning his people. Yet this is not a power we presume upon—Satan twisted these very verses to tempt Jesus, and Jesus refused to test the Father. Only after the devil departed did angels come and minister to him Matthew 4:11. Our struggle, Ephesians 6:12 reminds us, is against unseen spiritual forces—and God provides for us even in realms we cannot see. Perhaps the most striking expression of angelic service is restraint: as Christ was mocked, beaten, and crucified, the angels held back. Jesus himself said the Father could send legions, but he did not call them. Had the angels intervened, there would be no inheritance of salvation. Their service to God meant standing by while their Lord died for us.

This reframes how we think of angels and how we think of ourselves. Angels are not what we become; they are fellow creatures with a different vocation. Revelation 5 pulls back the curtain to show their ultimate joy: myriads upon myriads surrounding the throne, singing, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered." That is the song the angels were made for, and through Christ's worthiness it becomes our song too. We do not cross from earth to heaven and earn wings. We receive something far greater—an eternity of joining the heavenly host in praise of the God who saved us.

Transcript

If you would, please open your Bibles to the book of Hebrews the first chapter. 2s

We're going to be studying Hebrews the first chapter. 8s

Okay, so I'm going to ask a question. 12s

We're in a Q&A sermon series or some sermon series, but this moment in the sermon is a Q&A. 14s

I get to ask you a question and you should answer, okay? 22s

All right, so when I say angels, angel, what do you think of what pops into mind? 25s

Wings, wings, what? 34s

Halo, wings, protection. 37s

Don't get ahead of us. 40s

No, I'm just kidding. 42s

What else? 44s

Huh? 46s

Gabriel, okay, so a specific angel, Gabriel, Michael. 47s

So everyone has an idea. 51s

When we say something about angels, everyone has some sort of picture or idea that pops into the mind, right? 54s

Yes, you can still answer. 63s

It's okay. 66s

So we all know that angels exist. 68s

Angels are throughout scripture and they serve in a variety of ways. 71s

But a lot of what we think about or think we know about angels in our modern day really comes from what we see or read about in movies and books. 77s

But is that what angels are? 89s

Is the idea from what we get in movies and books, what angels actually are? 93s

In confirmation this past year, one of the students mentioned that of all the things that he would like to learn about. 99s

He said, we really don't learn about angels. 106s

I would love to learn about angels. 108s

And then we started doing this summer series. 110s

The question and answer and I thought this is a perfect time. 112s

So we are going to talk today. 115s

We're going to answer the question. 117s

What is the purpose of angels? 118s

We know they exist. 121s

They're all throughout scripture. 122s

We're not, we know they're there, but what purpose do they serve? 123s

Is the purpose of angels like what we find in it's a wonderful life? 128s

Where someone has died, they want to earn their wings. 134s

And so they prove to us that our life has purpose. 138s

Is that the purpose of angels? 142s

Long I just tell you right now, no. 144s

No, that is a false teaching of angels. 146s

Angel in both the Greek and the Hebrew, the word for angel in both of those language means messenger. 151s

Or an envoy. 159s

It's one who is sent from God. 161s

A lot of Jews had superstitious or idolatrous beliefs about angels, 166s

where they would begin worshiping and praising angels. 173s

They would look at the angels as mediators between God and man. 177s

But that's not accurate either. 183s

Angels are not co-equal with the Triune God. 186s

We have the Father's Son and Holy Spirit all co-equal. 192s

Angels are not in there. 196s

Angels are part of God's creation. 198s

They are another creature. 202s

They were created by God so we do not praise or worship angels. 204s

They were not created for the intent of us worshiping them. 211s

Just as all of God's creatures have purpose. 218s

Angels have purpose within his creation and within his will in creation. 222s

So what is the purpose? 229s

Hebrews 1, 14, lays it out plain and bare. 230s

Are not all angels spirits in the divine service. 235s

Sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation. 238s

So what does that mean? 245s

What we're going to talk about that. 247s

So there are various angels. 248s

We have ranks and orders of angels. 250s

But scripture is not clear of how the rankings work. 253s

We know we have arch angels. 256s

We know there are seraphim. 258s

They're nephlim. 259s

But we don't know exactly or cherubim. 260s

We don't know exactly what the ordering is and how it all works. 262s

Scripture does not lay that out for us. 267s

So this is one of those points where we have to say, 270s

okay, Lord, you have angels. 275s

They exist. 277s

They are ordered. 278s

You know how they're ordered. 280s

I trust you God. 281s

And it's really hard for us to do that sometimes. 283s

To say, I don't know this. 286s

I'm not going to know this, but that's okay. 287s

So we're going to continue to turn to Scripture to teach us. 290s

We don't even know the full count of how many angels there are. 294s

We read of thousands, 10,000, 10,000 times, 10,000, 299s

a multitude of heavenly host, 20,000, even thousands of angels. 303s

All of these mentions are expressions that symbolize an uncounted thousands. 310s

So we have no idea how many angels there are. 317s

But we know that there are a lot, a lot. 321s

And one of the roles that an angel serves is to announce. 326s

It's a messenger. 332s

It's announcing something from the Lord. 333s

In Luke, the first chapter, we read of an angel coming to Mary announcing, 336s

in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel. 342s

There we got Gabriel. 344s

Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 346s

to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David. 349s

The virgin's name was Mary, and he came to her and said, 354s

greetings, favored one. 358s

The Lord is with you. 359s

But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 361s

The angel said to her, 366s

do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 367s

And now you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, 371s

and you will name him Jesus. 375s

He will be great, and he will be called the son of the most high. 376s

And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 380s

He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. 384s

And of his kingdom, there will be no end. 387s

So the angel was announcing to Mary, 391s

God's plan for salvation. 394s

He was announcing to Mary the birth of the chosen one, 396s

who would come through her, and that she had found favor with the Lord. 401s

If we go to chapter two, we have the angels announcing to the shepherds 406s

that the Christ child had been born. 411s

In verse 8 it begins in that region. 413s

There were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 416s

Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, 421s

and the glory of the Lord shown around them, 423s

and they were terrified. 426s

But the angel said to them, 430s

do not be afraid. 432s

For see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people. 433s

To you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, 439s

who is the Messiah, the Lord. 442s

This will be a sign for you. 444s

You will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger. 446s

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts, praising God, 451s

and saying, glory to God in the highest heaven, 457s

and on earth peace among those whom he favors, 460s

I love how the angels constantly break out in praise and worship. 464s

It's beautiful. 470s

We're going to talk more about this. 471s

If you go to Matthew, we have an angel announcing the good news of the resurrection. 473s

Matthew chapter 28, after the Sabbath, 480s

as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb, 483s

that is the tomb of Jesus. 488s

And suddenly there was a great earthquake for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven came, 489s

and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 495s

His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow, 498s

for fear of him, the guards shook and became like dead men. 501s

But the angel said to the woman, 505s

do not be afraid. 507s

Women do not be afraid. 508s

I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 510s

He is not here for he has been raised as he said, 513s

come, see the place where he lay, 518s

then go quickly and tell his disciples. 521s

He has been raised from the dead, 523s

and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee. 525s

There, you will see him. 528s

This is my message for you. 531s

So we see several times, and these are just a few examples, 535s

of the angels coming to announce Christ, 539s

announced the Messiah, announced Christ or God's plan for salvation. 543s

So they were used as very literal messengers of God 549s

to bring the good news. 554s

And constantly, it's so beautiful and wonderful 557s

how they break out into a glorious song. 559s

We don't even have a clue or a glimpse of what that beauty, 564s

the sound of the heavenly hosts will be, 569s

but we know that it's there. 572s

We know that the angels continue to sing his praise and worship. 575s

We also have the angels in guardians. 581s

They guard us. 585s

So if we go to Psalm 91, verses 9 through 12, 586s

we have the verses which say, 592s

because you have made the Lord your refuge, 594s

the most higher dwelling place, 597s

no evil shall befall you, 599s

no scourge, come near your tent. 601s

For he will command his angels concerning you, 604s

to guard you in all your ways, 607s

on their hands they will bear you up, 610s

so that you will not dash your foot against a stone. 612s

Does that sound familiar? 616s

That verse is the verse that Satan used to attempt to tempt Jesus. 618s

He was saying, you know God will send the angels. 627s

They will protect you, they will guard you, 631s

but Jesus did not fall into the temptation of Satan. 635s

He was not going to tempt God or make God prove 640s

his love of the Son by forcing the angels to come 646s

and minister to him. 652s

He was stood the temptation of Satan. 653s

And once Satan was turned away from Jesus, 659s

once Jesus told him to leave his presence in Matthew, 663s

chapter 4, it says the devil left him, 668s

and suddenly angels came and waited on him. 671s

The angels were standing by. 676s

They wanted to guard Christ. 678s

They wanted to lift him. 681s

They wanted to protect him, but they stood by. 683s

And as soon as the devil left, they rushed in 688s

and ministered to him. 691s

Are not all angels spirits in the divine service 695s

sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation. 700s

The angels themselves are not God. 706s

They're not divine, but they have certain abilities 710s

that we as humans do not. 714s

In Ephesians, chapter 6, 719s

we read that our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, 723s

but against the rulers, against the authorities, 728s

against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, 731s

against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 734s

God provides for us in all things. 740s

What's incredible is to consider how he provides for us. 745s

He cares for us every moment of every day, 750s

even in the realm that we cannot see, 755s

even in the realm of that which we do not understand. 758s

This is the purpose of angels to serve 764s

for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation. 767s

How difficult when Christ was being tempted by Satan, 774s

how difficult it must have been for the angels to hold back 780s

and to not rush in and to not serve and to not minister. 785s

But Christ had to hold up in order for our salvation 790s

to the temptations of Satan. 796s

How difficult it must have been for the heavenly host 802s

to stand by watching as Christ was taken by the Roman soldiers. 807s

Was whipped, was beaten, was mocked. 819s

At any moment, the angels could swoop in and save him. 824s

Jesus says, as he hangs on the cross, 831s

don't you think my father would send thousands of angels? 834s

The angels had to stand by waiting, watching. 840s

They're Lord, suffer. 847s

But their purpose is to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation. 853s

If the angels didn't stand by and hold back and watch as Christ bled, 862s

as he breathed his last, as he gave up his spirit, 873s

if they intervened in any sort of way, 879s

then we are not inheriting salvation. 884s

By watching their Lord die. 890s

They were fulfilling their purpose to serve those who are to inherit salvation. 897s

In service to God, they had to stand back. 907s

In service to God, they had to let Christ die. 911s

In revelation, God, in His grace, pulls back the curtain for us to see, 921s

for just a moment into the throne room. 930s

John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, 935s

writes, then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne, a scroll, 937s

written on the inside and on the back sealed with seven seals. 943s

And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, 946s

who is worthy to open the scroll and break it seals, 950s

and no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll 955s

or to look into it. 962s

And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll 965s

or look into it. 971s

Then one of the elders said to me, do not weep, see the lion of the tribe of Judah, 973s

the root of David has conquered so that he can open the scroll and it's seven seals, 980s

and then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures, 986s

and among the elders, a lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered. 990s

He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne. 1000s

And I looked and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne, 1007s

and the living creatures and the elders, they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands 1011s

of thousand singing with full voice worthy is the lamb that was slaughtered, 1016s

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and glory and blessing. 1023s

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea 1029s

and all that is in them singing to the one seated on the throne and to the lamb, 1034s

be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever. 1039s

Because the angels' purpose was for that moment, the lion of Judah, 1048s

the root of Jesse, the lamb slaughtered, their purpose is to rejoice, 1060s

rejoice that Jesus is worthy to open the scroll, 1075s

and through His worthiness, through His conquering and triumph over death and the devil 1084s

and the grave, He has made us worthy to sing with all the angels, 1091s

the multitude that heavenly host, the glory and praise to Christ. 1102s

When we cross from earth to heaven, we don't get wings, a bell does not ring. 1114s

I don't even think we get halos, but what we get, what we receive is eternity, 1128s

singing and praising God for His goodness, for His glory, 1141s

and for the fact that He has called us to be with Him forever. 1149s

Amen. 1159s